In 1977, then-Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda articulated Japan's diplomatic policy toward Asia. The Fukuda Doctrine outlined Japan's commitment to share peace and prosperity with the rest of Asia through "heart-to-heart" interactions and never becoming a military power.

Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is showing the world his own doctrine during his first overseas trip since taking office, which takes him to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, three members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is a doctrine that will escalate regional tensions rather than promote peace.

Days before his trip, Abe and some of his cabinet members declared that this doctrine would maintain Japan's relations with countries that share basic values, such as democracy, a market economy and rule of law, in order to keep China in check.